Automatic feeder for washing machines



Sept. 11, 1956 w. o. MANLEY AUTOMATIC FEEDER FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed Jan. 15, 1954 INVEN TOR. MOW/m7 0. Man/2y A TTOPN 2,7 2,527 AUTOMATIC FEEDER FOR WASHING,

pp ca a y 13, 1 e a 40318.9 6 Claims. (Cl.'2 22' -11 7) This invention relates to improvements in n achinesfor washingclothes and particularly to an i-mQI WQ-feeder for automatically dumping soap, bluing-andithe-like into the machine in timed sequence during-theggperat on. o the machine and without operator attention after.theeedsr has been conditioned for automatic operation.

It is the most important object-of the present invention to provide a feeder for automatic washing machines that includes a pluralityof containers swingably mounted for movement to and from a position dumping ;the.cntents thereof into the machine, each of which containers is provided with a novel cam-actuated latch normally hooked over a finger onthe container.

Another important object hereof is to .providetmechanism in a feeder of the aforementioned character for automatically operating the cams in timed seq ence togsuccessively release the latches and thereby. the containegs for swinging movement to a dumping position.

Other objects include the way in which atregiprgcable solenoid is provided to impart steprby-step ovem n s the cam shaft; the way in which the saidshafit isprovided with ratchet mechanism that includes a pron g'ediwheel actuated by a pawl operably connectedswith the re ciprocable corev of the said solenoid; andmany other important objects including details. ofvconstructiom all nf which will be made clearas. thefollowing speciiication progresses.

In the drawing:

Figurel is a top planview ofan automatic feeder for Washing machines made pursuant to ,thepresent invention showing one of the containers in a dumped position and jaw the remaining containers held in an upright positiorhby their latches.

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the feeder, parts being broken away and in section to reveal details of construction.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary, elevational view showing the opposite end of the feeder; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, detailed view illustrating the means employed to prevent retrograde rotation of the cam shaft.

Those skilled in the field of automatic machines for washing clothing are well aware of the fact that the provision of an automatic feeder therefor is extremely advantageous because of the time that is saved in eliminating periodic dumping of soaps, bluing and other materials into the Washing machine as it completes each step of its cycle of operation.

It is contemplated that the feeder about to be described shall be synchronized with the operation of the automatic washing machine so that the substances aforementioned, will be dumped thereinto in timed sequence, an automatic washing machine being shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing for illustrative purposes and designated by the numeral 10. In accordance with the present invention there is provided an open top hopper broadly designated by the numeral 12, rigidly secured to the machine 10 through the medium of suitable fasteners 14 and having an outlet .Paietii sl fient- :121. 5.6

h ill t -pp ine s 8$sue a e a s-i s.areresns sblt pq nte .1 the e -although the'vmediumof frames 30, removably clamped thereto. Each frame 30 is iatararroride Witha. hapd.h ac e -3 isi the bottomdher andhavin each, of;=;the legs. thereof formed ssfa o that-is rotatable-on,the;rod22. Ess t p i a ne afi i rm ded with ia'lcap 6 :having .a restricted opening 38 therein .so .that :the contents of the q nta nsr w kna flswtt t rapidlyinto thehoppei .l2-;an5l thence into the. maehineilflmhen the:containers lfi -e ssne inifl dats swin tot umningpqsition re ting g ppn resilient topsflilnnonnted on the; bottomof hopper :12. t

hash fish s-names 30=1 -zp o d d.with a re nward y e ts t iss: fias .42 on he vbot om theteefs dj en the zbt qket l th oo ra ith lat h s 4 j e th l tt r ars hq ls slcre th in e 2 n eJeasab y o ing-the containers 28 in the upright position. '1 here is a la;tch 44 fonweach container 28respectively, and I latches 44-,are thap :2 for in ng vementtoward and th -s 24- i -A rn memher-t46isprovided foreach latch 44,,resaec se ya h m mb r An hems ri -s a ,r rotatio therewi an sthetlatche 4. n -y elda :hi sq in.en a ement-w th th Qammemb v4 r sp n sii tmou ted oath opr ll I is Id b r t s t s that hat the t h an thes mmembe s .46 headjustahle, on the pin 26, and-shaft 24 respectively,- and by sp ral y: o fset in t m members '4 t r ugho fth .q s i e l mmun sat ns d r ct y w thne machine 10. npp tor diwithapair ,of end walls-.18 and that-monnta 1 22,39.- shaft-Q4anda pin;26 inpar a1lellens h-Qf hfii a izf i' h conta n rs swil re ased spring 56 connecting thetsame with .wall 18 and is provided with aclateralrstud 58. engageable; with the prongs of ,a

-star- ..-wheel 6 0. StRetrograde rotation of the-shaft=24 anti-clockwise,"viewing-Fig. :4, is .preventedtby use of an- .othen.ratchet t62 rigid/to, the; shaft 1 24,; together .witha spring 64. engageableptherewith. 'The shaft :24 may; .be

rotated manually to set the cams 46 by a knob 66 rigid to that end of shaft 24 opposite to the two ratchets or wheels and 62.

In operation, the containers 28 may be filled with predetermined amounts of material to be fed by removing caps 36 and this filling operation may take place by removing the entire frames 30 and the containers 28 from the rod 22.

The containers 28 and frames 30 are thereupon remounted on the rod 22 in the upright position with the latches 44 in hooked relationship to the fingers 42 as is clear in Fig. 2.

During operation of the machine 10 through use of its timing mechanism (not shown) the solenoid 50 is operated to impart step-by-step rotation to the shaft 24 and thereby successively trip the latches 44 through the cams 46. The order of dumping of the contents of the containers 28 is determined by the relative positions of the earns 46 on the shaft 24 and it may now be appreciated that any number or all of the containers 28, may be utilized as desired by the operator. Shaft 24 may be rotated manually through use of the knob 66 to correctly position the cams 46 for the operation desired.

Each time the solenoid 50 is energized, a pull is exerted upon the pawl 54 against the action of spring 56 and the by engagement withthe prongs thereof.

The way in which selected containers 28 may be used; the manner of adjusting the sequence of dumping thereof; and the manner ofconnecting the power means 50 with the shaft 24 so-as to permitindependen-t rotation of the shaft 24 through use of the knob 66, are all important features of the present invention and while details of construction may be varied within the spirit of the invention, it is desired to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

I. In a washing machine having a hopper, a support, and a plurality of containers swingably mounted on the support for gravitational movement to aposition dumping their contents into the hopper; a finger for each container respectively; a swingable latch for each finger respectively and engageable therewith for holding the containers against swinging movement to said position; a rotatable shaft; a cam member for each latch respectively and rigid to the shaft, said cam members having cam surfaces disposed to engage their latches to swing the same out of engagement with the fingers upon rotation of the shaft; and structure operably coupled with the shaft for impartingrota-tion thereto.

2. In a washing machine having a hopper, a support, and a plurality of containers swingably mounted on the support for gravitational movement to a position dumping their contents into the hopper; a finger for each container respectively; a swingable latch for each finger respectively and engageable therewith for holding the containers against swinging movement to said position; a rotatable shaft; a

cam member for each latch respectively and rigid to the shaft, said cam members having cam surfaces disposed to engage their latches to swing the same out of engagement with the fingers upon rotation of the shaft, said cam members having their cam surfaces spirally offset relatively along the shaft whereby the latches are successively tripped and the containers thereby successively dumped as the shaft is rotated; and structure operably coupled with the shaft for imparting rotation thereto.

3. In a washing machine having a hopper, a support, and a plurality of containers swingably mounted on the support for gravitational movement to a'position dumping their contents into the hopper; a finger for each container respectively; a swingable latch for each finger retively and rigid to the shaft, said cam members having eam surfaces disposed to engage their latches to swing the same out of engagement with the fingers upon rotation of the shaft; springs bearing against the latches for yieldably holding the same biased against the cam members; and structure operably coupled with the shaft imparting rotation thereto.

4. In a washing machine having a hopper, a support, and a plurality of container swingably mounted on the support for gravitational movement to a position dumping their contents into the hopper; a finger for each container respectively; a swingable latch for each finger respectively and engageable therewith for holding the containers against swinging movement to said position; a rotatable shaft; a cam member for each latch respectively and rigid to the shaft, said cam members having cam surfaces disposed to engage their latches to swing the same out of engagement with the fingers upon rotation of the shaft; and structure for rotating the shaft including ratchet mechanism having a pronged wheel mounted on the shaft, a reciprocable pawl provided with a pin engageable with the prongs of said wheel to rotate the wheel, and a solenoid having a reciprocable core connected with the pawl to reciprocate the latter.

5. In a washing machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein is provided a manually manipulable knob on said shaft for rotating the latter to position the cam members, said shaft and said wheel being rotatable in one direction relative to the pawl.

6. In a washing machine having a hopper, a support, and a plurality of containers swingably mounted on the support for gravitational movement to a posit-ion dumping their contents into the hopper; a finger for each container respectively; a swingable latch for each finger respectively and engageable therewith for holding the containers against swinging movement to said position; a rotatable shaft; a cam member for each latch respectively;

means releasably mounting each cam member on the shaft,

each cam member having a cam surface disposed to engage and trip the corresponding latch and being rotatable on the shaft when the mounting means therefor is released; and structure operably coupled with the shaft for imparting v rotation thereto and to the members whereby to dump spect-ively and engageable therewith for holding the con- 3 I tainers against swinging movement to said position; a rotatable shaft; a cam member for each latch respecthe containers sequentially according to the radial disposition of said surfaces.

2,339,396 Harvey Ian. 18, 1944 

